In 2002, 2004 & 2006 I went to Kursk, Russia and stayed with a wonderful girl named Anna.

April 2006

We have kept in touch.  She visited in 2002, 2003, twice  in 2012 and once in 2013.

May 2012

September 2012

March 2013

In September 2012 when she came to visit, I was running a race and she wanted to come watch.

drinking out of my Starbuck’s Moscow mug before the race

She was very excited about the race, took lots of pictures and even a video of me running.

This is the email that I just got from her:

You’ll be surprised to learn I took up running as well.  I think it happened largely due to my watching you run that early early morning in the park.

In the summer I used to run in the park, but not it’s getting chillier. I bought a fitness club pass and yesterday was my first day of running indoors.

Now isn’t that cool??

Happy Running! Have you ever inspired someone to start running?